not sure how much help this will be, but i just checked a 1980 ludwig catalog. the pearls that were available were black diamond,white marine,pyster blue and sky blue.

mike

I also checked a 1980 catalog and didn't see the pearl finish I am trying to identify. Either the finish I saw on a set of 1979 drums was only produced for that one year or I have the wrong year for the drums. SC

They did not print catalogs every year and finishes were still available even if they were not in the catalog.

The catalogs are not a definitive resource for a lot of things since they re-printed catalogs and re-used photos.

The 1980 catalog was started in 1979 to get it out in time for 1980. I can put up the 1978 colors.

David

Not to throw a monkey wrench in the works, but I know you could also special order finishes that were not available certain years with Ludwig. For example, I once came across a 6-ply ludwig kit factory finished in Black Panther with blue/olive ROUND corner badges.....these aren't supposed to even exsist, but they did and they were original and not a re-wrap. Black Panther was supposed to have been long gone after 1975 and the round corner badges didn't start until 1979...so......another ludwig anomaly!

David,

Thanks for the 1978 catalog page and the information. It's very helpful.

Have you ever seen a late 70s Ludwig kit with a yellow "sunburst" wrap? It doesn't resemble anything I have read about so I am wondering if what I have seen in a picture is just a faded yellow cortex. Maybe it has faded unevenly giving it a sunburst look.

Just guessing now...

sc

I would love to see a set of Chrom O wood drums!!! I am thinking it is probably ridiculously cheesy looking but it may just be a snazzy finish. Jumping2